Would it be possible to do a tummy tuck on a person with a large horizontal scar? (photos)

You should be able to obtain a good result from a Fleur De Li  Tummy Tuck approach. Your incision will be up the midline all the way and along the bottom of your abdomen. A lot of vertical and horizontal skin laxity will be removed this way. Be aware that it is a larger operation then a standard Tummy Tuck and you having the previous under the rib scar has to be taken into consideration by your surgeon when planning the procedure. I hope this has helped.

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  Your midline scar should not interfere with a tummy tuck surgery.  As long as you can obtain medical clearance from your primary physician, then you could safely proceed forward with surgery.     Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most
important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend
that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who
can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.  FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Yes, You are a candidate for a fleur de lis tummy tuck. You would have an  incision across your lower abdomen and then vertically removing all of the old scar from your abdomen.

The scar of concern with you is the right upper quadrant scar, not really the vertical midline scar that you have. The midline scar can be used in a fleur de lis abdominoplasty which you will likely need. The right sided scar may be able to be partially removed, but the blood supply to that portion of your abdominal skin may be compromised during a standard tummy tuck. As such, you need to be evaluated carefully by a board certified plastic surgeon before any surgery is done.

Dear waynesgirl,if you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.Daniel Barrett, MD

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

It is possible to have some skin removal surgery, however your general health and BMI need to be optimized.  The surgical technique will possibly need to be altered from a traditional approach due to the location of your incisions. Seek a consultation from a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best wishes.

Yes, it is possible to do a tummy tuck with a midline vertical scar however, if the scar extends above the belly button, you would not be able to remove the scar. You may be best suited for a “fluer de lys” abdominoplasty which uses a midline scar to remove more tissue in a horizontal plane and give more of a waistline. Of course, it sounds like you have other medical issues that need to be taken care of before considering elective surgery. I hope this answer helps you. Thanks! :)

A horizontal scar is not a contra indication for surgery. A fleur de lis abdominoplasty would be the best option for you and best to consult with a PS to run through the pros and cons. 

Thank you for your question.The presence of your scar would likely make a fleur di lis abdominoplasty a very reasonable option which would allow even more aggressive contouring of the abdomen.  When losing a lot of weight it is important to consider if you are at an ideal weight or if additional weight loss is desired.  Complication rates increase substantially for patients that are over a body mass index of 30.  A fleur di lis abdominoplasty is a major procedure that would take any surgeon several hours to complete.  A proper medical evaluation would need to be performed to ensure it was safe for you to undergo.  As far as the costs associated, it is possible a portion would be covered through insurance if you were able to receive some assistance through federal or state programs and the rest be out of pocket.  Another option is to look into if there are any plastic surgery training programs close to you that might consider performing the procedure pro bono as part of training of residents.  You could do a search for plastic surgery residency and the closest major city to see what comes up.Best Dr. L

Thank you for this question. Actually, assuming you are medically cleared to have surgery, this old scar makes the decision process easier. Given the amount of extra skin on your abdomen, you would be a perfect candidate for a Fleur-de-lis tummy tuck. This technique actually results in the usual lower transverse scar and a long vertical scar. Many patients find this vertical scar (like you already have) objectionable, but it allows a much better result. In the hands of an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, you should do well.